Bunk bed construction

ABSTRACT

A bunk bed construction wherein cross-boards are abutted between vertical posts of the bunk bed frame and wherein lower edges of the cross-boards are recessed and a high tensil rod is disposed in the recess and extending longitudinally therethrough and into said posts wherein abutment or nut means is disposed for securing opposite ends of the rod in said posts whereby the nut means may be screw threadably tightened to place the rod in tension and the cross-board in compression between said posts.

United States Patent Ewing 1 June 3, 1975 [54] BUNK BED CONSTRUCTIOND206,427 12/1968 Fowler 5/8 UX [76] Inventor: Tom Ewing, 1950 W.Broadway, FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Phoemx, AYIZ- 85041 845,1227/1949 Germany 182/216 [22] Filed: Sept. 17, 1973 pp NO: 398,217 PrimaryExaminer-Casmir A. Nunberg [57] ABSTRACT A bunk bed construction whereincross-boards are 58 85/53 abutted between vertlcal posts of the bunk bedframe 1 r 1 5 2 and wherein lower edges of the cross-boards are recessedand a high tensil rod is disposed in the recess and extendinglongitudinally therethrough and into [56] References cued said postswherein abutment or nut means is disposed UNITED STATES PATENTS forsecuring opposite ends of the rod in said posts 777,068 12/1904 Boyer182/216 whereby the nut means may be screw threadably tightl,949,0762/1934 Kalgren 182/216 ened to place the rod in tension and the crossboa d i 2,351,015 6/1944 Davison 52/753 0 compression between said posts3,008,534 11/1961 Von Canon 5/8 UX 7 3,298,272 1 1967 6 Claims, 6Drawing Figures Henderson 85/53 SHEET PATENTEDJUNIB ms /&

'"HLLHHHH BUNK BED CONSTRUCTION PRIOR ART Prior art relating tofurniture is as follows: US. Pat. No. 823,133 patented Aug. 7, 1906 byPutnam Morrison. U.S. Pat. No. 868,310 patented Oct. 15, 1907 by A. P.White, et al. US. Pat. No. 1.933.074 issued Oct. 31, 1933 by B. E.Richardson.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Bunk beds have been very useful in providingcompact sleeping facilities for a plurality of persons in a limitedarea. Bunk beds have been provided with superimposed frames and haveheretofore been inherently dangerous due to the fact that the structuralarrangement of bunk bed corner posts and headboard structure has comeapart and allowed occupants and struc ture of an upper bunk tofall uponpersons in a lower bunk. The connections of prior art bunk bedstructures have included screws and/or glued joints or wooden dowels forconnecting the head posts and the crossboards and consequently thesestructures have become loose and very difficult to maintain and theprincipal problem has been leverage of the structures when the bunk bedsare in superimposed position such that movement in the upper bunk hassufficient leverage to cause loosening of the various joints of the headposts and cross-boards of both of the superimposed bunk bed structures.With the prior art construction as hereinbe fore described, the highleverage factor acting on the conventional glued joints or doweledjoints or those utilizing screws has been sufficient to cause seriousaccidents and many companies have quit manufacturing such bunk beds dueto the potential liabilities involved. Consequently the general publichas been endangered by the prior art bunk bed structures and with suchprior art structures it has been necessary heretofore to produce massiveposts and cross-boards in order to obtain sufficient strength to renderbunk beds safe. Consequently the cost of such massive structures, whichare structurally safe, has been prohibitive to a great extent.

SUMMARY OF THE lNVENTlON The present invention relates to a bunk bedconstruction wherein vertical posts are interconnected by a high tensilstrength rod which is disposed in a grooved edge of a cross-board havingopposite ends abutted between the posts and whereby tightening of therod by a screw threaded means causes the rod to be placed in tension andthe cross-board to be placed in compression between the posts therebyaffording a very strong bunk bed construction wherein the posts andcross-boards may be made of wood or the like.

The in ention also provides for maintenance adjustment of theaforementioned screw threaded means so that the rod may be additionallytightened to compensate for loosening attendant to the seasoning of woodor the like from which the bunk beds may be constructed.

The bunk bed construction according to the present invention provides avery strong, safe mechanical connection between the posts and thecrossboards so as to effectively prevent the unexpected collapse of bunkbeds and thereby alleviating the possibility of injury to persons in thebunk beds.

The construction of bunk beds in accordance with the present inventionaffords simplicity of assembly of the cross-boards and the verticalposts thereby contributing to manufacturing economy.

Additionally the invention requires very simple machining of the woodenposts and cross-boards in combination with the high tensil connectingrods interconnecting the posts and crossboards thereby affording economyof production and consequently promoting a low retail price to thegeneral public.

The invention also comprises a novel relationship between thecross-boards and the vertical posts as well as the tension rodinterconnecting the posts wherein opposite ends of one of thecross-boards are finished at a slight angle at the ends such thattension of the interconnecting rod which interconnected the posts forcesthe posts against opposite ends of the adjacent crossboard to therebymaintain integrity of the bunk bed assembly including a pair of verticalposts and a pair of spaced apart or adjacent cross-boards at each end ofthe bunk bed construction of the invention. Additionally, thedisposition of the tension rod inter-connecting the vertical posts issuch that the rod is hidden in a slot or grooved edge in one of thecross-boards to maintain connecting rods structure together with dowelsor other fixtures at the ends of the cross-boards and engaging the postsso as to prevent rotative displacement of the cross-boards around theaxis of the interconnecting tension rod structure whereby thecross-boards are maintained in proper vertical alignment with thevertical corner posts of the bunk bed construction.

Accordingly it is an object of the present invention to provide a bunkbed construction which is of simple mechanical arrangement yet verystrong and safe as well as durable.

Another object of the invention is to provide a high tension rodinterconnecting vertical posts of a bunk bed construction and placingcross-boards in compression and wherein screw threaded means on theinterconnecting rod means provides for tightening adjustment ofthe'posts against the opposite ends of the crossboards so as tocompensate for normal environmental shrinkage of the material such aswood or the like of which the bunk bed construction is manufactured.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bunk bed constructionwhich is very compact. simple to manufacture and very simple andeconomical to assemole.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bunk bed constructionwhich may be made of wood and of wooden parts which have nominaldimensions yet which are highly strengthened by a tension rod such assteel which interconnects the vertical posts and which places thecross-boards in compression.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel high strengthbunk bed construction wherein tension rod means interconnects verticalposts and is hidden in a slot or groove in the edge of a cross-boardbetween the vertical posts.

Another object of the invention is to provide a construction such as setforth in the previous objects wherein the cross-boards are preventedfrom rotating about the axis of the tension rod interconnecting thevertical posts by means of dowels or other fixtures which interconnectthe cross-boards and vertical posts to prevent the cross-boards fromrotating about the axis of the tension rods.

Further objects and advantages of the invention may be apparent from thefollowing specification, appended claims and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a bunkbed construction in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken from a line 22 ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary plane sectional view taken from theline 33 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken from the line 44 of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a diagramatic view showing one end of one of cross-boards ofthe invention and acute angular disposition of the cross-board endnormal to its longitudinal axis; and

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view similar to FIG. 2 but showing amodification of the invention wherein a pair of cross-boards aredisposed in adjacent relation to each other and having groovesstraddling a tension rod which interconnects vertical posits of the bunkbed construction of the invention.

posts OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS As shown in FIG. 1 of the drawingsthe bunk bed construction of the invention comprises an upper bunk bedframe assembly having two pairs of vertical posts 10 and 12 at oppositeends of the bunk bed construction. lnterconnecting the posts 10 is alongitudinal frame member 11 and interconnecting the post 12 is alongitudinal frame member 13. These longitudinal frame members 11 and 13are provided with conventional removable fixtures at opposite endsthereof which are no part of the present invention.

Extending between each pair of posts 10 and 12 are cross-boards l4 andwhich are spaced apart vertically. The cross-board 14 is provided withopposite ends 17 and 19 which abut against the respective verticalcorner posts 10 and 12. Likewise opposite ends of the cross-boards 15are abutted against the posts 10 and 12.

As shown in FIG. 5 opposite ends 17 and 19 of the cross-boards 14 aredisposed at a slight angle as indicated in FIG. 5 whereby each loweredge 21 of each cross-board 14 is slightly shorter than a respectiveupper edge 23 thereof as for example the distance as indicated at A inFIG. 5 of the drawings may be one thirty-second of an inch so that thelength of the crossboard 14 along its lower edge 21 may be one-sixteenthshorter than the cross-board is along its edge 23 from end to end.

The edge 21 s provided with a groove 16 therein shown best in FIGS. 2and 5 of the drawings, thus the 0 er edge is grooved and this groove 16provides a Space In which a high tension connecting rod 18 is disposed.This connecting rod 18 extends through the longitudinal groove 16 fromend to end of the cross-board 14 and opposite ends of the rod 18 areprovided with externally screw threaded portions which pass through abore in the respective posts 10 and 12 and the screw threaded ends 20pass into an enlarged recess 26 wherein a transition is formed with theboard 25 such as to support a large diametal washer 24 against which ascrew threaded nut is engaged and screw threadably adjustable on thescrew threaded portion 20 of the rod 18. Thus tightening of the nut 22places each rod 18 in tension and causes opposite ends 17 and 19 of eachcross-board 14 to be placed in compression and abutted againstrespective inner sides of the posts 10 and 12 while the recesses 26 areopen at outer sides of the posts in which removable ornamental plugs 28are fitted to enclose the open ends of the recesses 26 so that access tothe nuts 22 may be had for adjusting the tension of the rod 18 as may bedesired due to shrinkage of the materials of the posts and cross-boardsas for example wood may shrink from time to time and thereforetightening of the nuts 22 will allow tightening of the overall structureof the bunk bed construction.

When the rods 18 are in tension opposite ends 17 and 19 abutted againstthe posts 10 and 12 tend to force the posts 10 and 12 inwardly intoabutted relation with opposite ends of the cross-boards 15.

These cross-boards 15 are similar to the cross-boards 14 in generalconstruction and are doweled at their opposite ends to the posts 10 and12 in a similar manner to that shown in FIG. 4 of the drawings whereinthe cross-board 14 and respective post 10 is shown with dowels 30 and 32projecting into corresponding recesses in the cross-board 14 and post 10to prevent rotation of the cross-board 14 about the axis of the tensionrod 18. Accordingly it will be understood that the opposite ends of thecross-boards 15 are secured by dowels similar to the dowels 30 and 32 inrelation to the posts 10 and 12.

In the modification as shown in FIG. 6 of the drawings, a cross-board 27is provided with an L-shaped groove 29 disposed so as to receive atension rod 31 and another cross-board designated 34 having an L- shapedgroove 35 is in substantially contiguous relation to the lower edge 33of the cross-board 27 and this modification provides for maintainingdirect compression of the posts 10 and 12 against opposite ends of boththe cross-boards 27 and 34 in a similar manner to that hereinbeforedescribed.

The disposition of the high tensil connecting rod 18 in the slot 16 asshown in FIG. 2 of the drawings hides the rod and provides for aestheticdisposition of the rod 18 as it is hidden within the confines of thecross-board 14.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the high tensilrod 18 may be made of steel while the vertical posts 10 and 12 and thecross-boards l4 and 15 may be of nominal dimension and constructed ofwood or the like. Consequently, these parts may be light weight andeconomical as well as simple to assemble and very economical tomanufacture. Furthermore, periodic tension adjustments may be made onthe rod 18 to hold the cross-boards and vertical posts rigidly connectedtogether.

As shown in FIG. 1 the bunk bed construction comprises an upper bunk bedframe 36 which includes two pairs of vertical posts 10 and 12 and twopairs of respective cross-boards 14 and 15 and longitudinal members 11and 13.

This bunk bed assembly is superimposed upon a lower bunk bed assembly 38comprising similar posts 10 and 12 with similar cross-boards 14 and 15.The upper assembly at lower ends 40 and 42 of the respective posts 10and 12 rest upon respective upper ends 44 and 46 of the lower bunk bedassembly 38 and locating pins 48 extend into the recesses in the upperends of the lower posts and into lower ends of the upper posts so thatthe upper assembly 36 is positively located and securely disposed uponthe posts of the lower assembly 38. Thus the superimposed assemblies 36and 38 may be substantially identical and it will be apparent to thoseskilled'in the art that substantial lateral forces of active persons inthe upper bunk may have a high leverage factor tending to stress thestructure of the bunk beds, however the high tensil connecting rod 18under tension as hereinbefore described, effectively tends to resistforces so applied with the high leverage attendant to someone moving inthe upper bed and therefore the construction of the invention is verysafe and durable and as hereinbefore described may be adjusted tocompensate for loosening clue to various causes.

It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications may be resorted to without departing from the spirit ofthe invention.

1 claim:

1. In a bunk bed construction wherein there is a headboard assembly; afootboard assembly and a pair of longitudinal frame membersinterconnecting the headboard and footboard assemblies the combinationof a pair of substantially vertical posts in each of said assemblies; atleast one cross-board between each pair of posts; each cross-boardhaving a lower edge and opposite ends said opposite ends abutted torespective ones of said posts; said cross-board having a groove in saidlower edge; a high tensil strength rod in said groove; said rod havingopposite ends extending into respective ones of said pair of posts andsecured thereto, said rod having a nut screw threadably engaged with atleast one of said'ends of said rod, said nut abutted to a respective oneof said posts and adapted to place said rod in tension and saidcross-board in compression between said pair of posts; said posts areprovided with inner and outer sides; said inner sides abutted againstends of said cross-boards; said outer sides of said posts havingrecesses about the ends of the respective rods; said recesses eachadapted to contain one of said nuts; and a bore in each post throughwhich said rod extends said bore being of smaller diameter than therespective one of said recesses; and a shoulder area at the juncturebetween said bore and respective recess; said nut being supported bysaid shoulder area.

2. The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein plug means is disposed inthe outer end of said recess for enclosing said outer side of each postat said recess.

3. In a bunk bed construction wherein there is a headboard assembly; afootboard assembly and a pair of longitudinal frame membersinterconnecting the headboard and footboard assemblies the combinationof a pair of substantially vertical posts in each of said assemblies; atleast one cross-board between each pair of posts; each cross-boardhaving a lower edge and opposite ends said opposite ends abutted torespective one: of said posts; said cross-board having a groo in saidlower edge; a high tensil strength rod in said groove; said rod havingopposite ends extending into respective ones of said pair of posts andsecured thereto, said rod having a nut screw threadably engaged with atleast one of said ends of said rod, said nut abutted to a respective oneof said posts and adapted to place said rod in tension and saidcross-board in compression between said pair of posts; dowels project1nto said posts and said cross-boards to prevent rotation of saidcross-boards about respective rods; said posts are provided with innerand outer sides; said inner sides abutted against ends of saidcross-boards; said outer side of said posts having recesses about theends of said rod; each of said recesses adapted to contain one of saidnuts; and a'bore in each post through which said rod extends, said borebeing of smaller diameter than the recess; and a shoulder area at ajuncture between said bore and a respective recess; said nut beingsupported by said shoulder area; and plug means enclosing said recess.at said outer side of each post.

4. In a bunk bed construction wherein there is a headboard assembly; afootboard assembly and a pair of longitudinal frame membersinterconnecting the headboard and footboard assemblies the combinationof a pair of substantially vertical posts in each of said assemblies; atleast one cross-board between each pair of posts; each cross-boardhaving a lower edge and opposite ends said opposite ends abutted torespective ones of said posts; said cross-board having a groove in saidlower edge; a high tensil strength rod in said groove; said rod havingopposite ends extending into respective ones of said pair of posts andsecured thereto, said rod having a nut screw threadably engaged with atleast one of said ends of said rod, said nut abutted to a respective oneof said posts and adapted to place said rod in tension and saidcross-board in compression between said pair of posts; wherein each ofsaid head and foot board assemblies is provided with a second boardhaving opposite ends abutted to said posts; said second cross-boardbeing spaced from said grooved edge of said first mentioned cross-board;said opposite ends of said first mentioned cross-board being slightlyshorter at said grooved edge than at said opposite edge whereby tensionof said rod tends to force said posts together against said oppositeends of said second cross-board.

5. In a bunk bed construction wherein: there is a head-board assembly; afootboard assembly and a pair of longitudinal frame membersinterconnecting the headboard and footboard assemblies, the combinationof: a pair of substantially vertical posts in each of said assemblies;at least one crossboard between each pair of posts; each crossboardhaving first and second respective lower and upper edges and oppositeends, said opposite ends abuted to respective ones of said posts; a hightensile rod adjacent to one of said edges (said first edge); said rodhaving opposite ends extending into respective ones of said pair ofposts and secured thereto, said rod having a nut screw threadablyengaged with at least one of said ends of said rod, said nut abuted to arespective one of said posts and adapted to place said rod in tension(tnnsion) and said crossboard in compression between said pair of posts;said opposite ends of said boards between said lower and upp edges beingabuted to said posts and thereby providin substantial lateral bracing ofsaid posts.

6. In a bunk bed construction wherein there is headboard assembly; afootboard assembly and a P of longitudinal frame members interconnectingthe headboard and footboard assemblies the combinatio of a pair ofsubstantially vertical posts in each of said assemblies; at least onecross-board between each P of posts; each cross-board having first andsecon edges and opposite ends said opposite ends abutted to respectiveones of said posts; a high tensil strength ro adjacent to said firstedge; said rod having opposite ted to said posts, said secondcross-board being spaced from said first edge of said first mentionedcross-board; said opposite ends of said first mentioned cross-boardbeing slightly shorter at said first edge than at said 0pposite edgewhereby tension of said rod tends to force said posts together againstsaid opposite ends of said second cross-board.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OF CORRECTION Patent No. 3 504Dated Juno 3 1Q7'5 InV n Tom Ewing It is certified that error appears inthe above-identified patent and that said Letters Patent are herebycorrected as shown below:

Claim 5 should appear as shown below:

In a bunk bed construction wherein: there is a headboard assembly; afootboard assembly and a pair of longitudinal frame membersinterconnecting the headboard and footboard assemblies, the combinationof a pair of substantially vertical posts in each of said assemblies; atleast one crossboard between each pair of posts; each crossboard havingfirst and second respective lower and upper edges and opposite ends,said opposite ends abuted to respective ones of said posts; a hightensile rod adjacent to one of said edges; said rod having opposite endsextending into respective ones of said pair of posts and securedthereto, said rod having a nut screw threadably engaged with at leastone of said ends of said rod, said nut abuted to a respective one ofsaid posts and adapted to place said rod in tension and said crossboardin compression between said pair of posts; said opposite ends of saidboards between said lower and upper edges being abuted to said posts andthereby providing substantial lateral bracing of said posts.

Signed and Scaled this sixteenth Day of March 1976 [SEAL] Attest:

RUTH C. MASON C. MARSHALL DANN Arresting Officer Commissioner ofParentsand Trademarks

1. In a bunk bed construction wherein there is a headboard assembly; afootboard assembly and a pair of longitudinal frame membersinterconnecting the headboard and footboard assemblies the combinationof a pair of substantially vertical posts in each of said assemblies; atleast one cross-board between each pair of posts; each cross-boardhaving a lower edge and opposite ends said opposite ends abutted torespective ones of said posts; said cross-board having a groove in saidlower edge; a high tensil strength rod in said groove; said rod havingopposite ends extending into respective ones of said pair of posts andsecured thereto, said rod having a nut screw threadably engaged with atleast one of said ends of said rod, said nut abutted tO a respective oneof said posts and adapted to place said rod in tension and saidcross-board in compression between said pair of posts; said posts areprovided with inner and outer sides; said inner sides abutted againstends of said cross-boards; said outer sides of said posts havingrecesses about the ends of the respective rods; said recesses eachadapted to contain one of said nuts; and a bore in each post throughwhich said rod extends said bore being of smaller diameter than therespective one of said recesses; and a shoulder area at the juncturebetween said bore and respective recess; said nut being supported bysaid shoulder area.
 1. In a bunk bed construction wherein there is aheadboard assembly; a footboard assembly and a pair of longitudinalframe members interconnecting the headboard and footboard assemblies thecombination of a pair of substantially vertical posts in each of saidassemblies; at least one cross-board between each pair of posts; eachcross-board having a lower edge and opposite ends said opposite endsabutted to respective ones of said posts; said cross-board having agroove in said lower edge; a high tensil strength rod in said groove;said rod having opposite ends extending into respective ones of saidpair of posts and secured thereto, said rod having a nut screwthreadably engaged with at least one of said ends of said rod, said nutabutted tO a respective one of said posts and adapted to place said rodin tension and said cross-board in compression between said pair ofposts; said posts are provided with inner and outer sides; said innersides abutted against ends of said cross-boards; said outer sides ofsaid posts having recesses about the ends of the respective rods; saidrecesses each adapted to contain one of said nuts; and a bore in eachpost through which said rod extends said bore being of smaller diameterthan the respective one of said recesses; and a shoulder area at thejuncture between said bore and respective recess; said nut beingsupported by said shoulder area.
 2. The invention as defined in claim 1wherein plug means is disposed in the outer end of said recess forenclosing said outer side of each post at said recess.
 3. In a bunk bedconstruction wherein there is a headboard assembly; a footboard assemblyand a pair of longitudinal frame members interconnecting the headboardand footboard assemblies the combination of a pair of substantiallyvertical posts in each of said assemblies; at least one cross-boardbetween each pair of posts; each cross-board having a lower edge andopposite ends said opposite ends abutted to respective ones of saidposts; said cross-board having a groove in said lower edge; a hightensil strength rod in said groove; said rod having opposite endsextending into respective ones of said pair of posts and securedthereto, said rod having a nut screw threadably engaged with at leastone of said ends of said rod, said nut abutted to a respective one ofsaid posts and adapted to place said rod in tension and said cross-boardin compression between said pair of posts; dowels project into saidposts and said cross-boards to prevent rotation of said cross-boardsabout respective rods; said posts are provided with inner and outersides; said inner sides abutted against ends of said cross-boards; saidouter side of said posts having recesses about the ends of said rod;each of said recesses adapted to contain one of said nuts; and a bore ineach post through which said rod extends, said bore being of smallerdiameter than the recess; and a shoulder area at a juncture between saidbore and a respective recess; said nut being supported by said shoulderarea; and plug means enclosing said recess at said outer side of eachpost.
 4. In a bunk bed construction wherein there is a headboardassembly; a footboard assembly and a pair of longitudinal frame membersinterconnecting the headboard and footboard assemblies the combinationof a pair of substantially vertical posts in each of said assemblies; atleast one cross-board between each pair of posts; each cross-boardhaving a lower edge and opposite ends said opposite ends abutted torespective ones of said posts; said cross-board having a groove in saidlower edge; a high tensil strength rod in said groove; said rod havingopposite ends extending into respective ones of said pair of posts andsecured thereto, said rod having a nut screw threadably engaged with atleast one of said ends of said rod, said nut abutted to a respective oneof said posts and adapted to place said rod in tension and saidcross-board in compression between said pair of posts; wherein each ofsaid head and foot board assemblies is provided with a second boardhaving opposite ends abutted to said posts; said second cross-boardbeing spaced from said grooved edge of said first mentioned cross-board;said opposite ends of said first mentioned cross-board being slightlyshorter at said grooved edge than at said opposite edge whereby tensionof said rod tends to force said posts together against said oppositeends of said second cross-board.
 5. In a bunk bed construction wherein:there is a head-board assembly; a footboard assembly and a pair oflongitudinal frame members interconnecting the headboard and footboardassemblies, the combination of: a pair of substantially vertical postsin each of said assemblies; at least one crossboard between Each pair ofposts; each crossboard having first and second respective lower andupper edges and opposite ends, said opposite ends abuted to respectiveones of said posts; a high tensile rod adjacent to one of said edges(said first edge); said rod having opposite ends extending intorespective ones of said pair of posts and secured thereto, said rodhaving a nut screw threadably engaged with at least one of said ends ofsaid rod, said nut abuted to a respective one of said posts and adaptedto place said rod in tension (tnnsion) and said crossboard incompression between said pair of posts; said opposite ends of saidboards between said lower and upper edges being abuted to said posts andthereby providing substantial lateral bracing of said posts.